RSL vs. FCD Game Thread [R]

SoccerPrime · 06-01-2005, 05:57 AM

For Dallas:
Vanney, Mulrooney and Johnson out.
Ruiz might be out too due to injury from last week.

For RSL:
Pope, Rojas and Fitzpatrick out.
Will Ellinger stick to a 4-5-1?
He hinted that he might play either Williams or Mathis wide, so maybe no 4-5-1.

Perhaps RSL can pull a victory from the gaping whole of defeat that we have tasted for the last 2 weeks.

Comments?

bordelais7 · 06-01-2005, 08:58 AM

Our D needs to mark tighter and more quickly or O'Brien will eat us alive. This business of leaving the area at the top of the box wide open is kind of a bad habit.

4-4-2 seems inevitable. And then hopefully it stays that way for awhile so we can gel.

Stucki · 06-01-2005, 09:10 AM

I'm not convinced that formation is our problem. It is like I always tell my basketball players, it isn't the scheme its execution.

SoccerPrime · 06-02-2005, 08:01 AM

Update:
Dallas will have Vanney(USMNT), Mulrooney(injury), Johnson(USMNT), Ruiz(injury) and Nunez(Honduras U20) out for this match.

RSL will have Selolwane(Botswana NT), Rojas(T&T NT), Fitzpatrick(T&T NT) and Pope(USMNT) out.

Rover · 06-02-2005, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

Update:
Dallas will have Vanney(USMNT), Mulrooney(injury), Johnson(USMNT), Ruiz(injury) and Nunez(Honduras U20) out for this match.

RSL will have Selolwane(Botswana NT), Rojas(T&T NT), Fitzpatrick(T&T NT) and Pope(USMNT) out.

Pope is a big loss and Tiger is a significant loss for us, but on balance we gain in this setup. Without Ruiz and Johnson they're much less dangerous up front, and Vanney is arguably their best defender.

This is a game primed as a Clint Mathis breakout match. He's due for a goal (or two), and this could be the one. He says he's OK with not being selected for the Nats, and I'll take him at his word, but I still think he'll be ready to put on a show. Clint's always been the kind of player who does better on the kind of stage he'll have on Saturday.

Aerick · 06-02-2005, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rover

This is a game primed for as a Clint Mathis breakout match. He's due for a goal (or two), and this could be the one. He says he's OK with not being selected for the Nats, and I'll take him at his word, but I still think he'll be ready to put on a show. Clint's always been the kind of player who does better on the kind of stage he'll have on Saturday.

So you're predicting that this will be "Cleetus Match 2005"? Later down the road this will be the match that we can all look back with fondness and say things like, "remember that one time when Clint did that one thing...". :D

Czar Jake · 06-02-2005, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerick

So you're predicting that this will be "Cleetus Match 2005"? Later down the road this will be the match that we can all look back with fondness and say things like, "remember that one time when Clint did that one thing...". :D

I think Mathis might have a big game too. On the coach's show on 1280, Coach E also mentioned that Clint and Andy haven't been certain on what their roles were, and who was going to run the attacking mid area. He said they had a meeting and discussed it. He then went on to talk about changing from the 4-5-1.

If they have that sorted out, it hopefully will mean good things for both Andy and Cleetus.

SoccerPrime · 06-02-2005, 12:28 PM

If they are changing from a 4-5-1, did Ellinger mention what they were changing to?

Rover · 06-02-2005, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerick

So you're predicting that this will be "Cleetus Match 2005"? Later down the road this will be the match that we can all look back with fondness and say things like, "remember that one time when Clint did that one thing...". :D

Well, to be fair, I think he's already been playing well for us. He's played more minutes (841) than anyone else on the team, and has three assists, also leading the team.

But he only has three shots on goal (and 18 total shots), and that's just not enough. Most of that can be attributed to his role as a kindasortamidforwardfielder, but I certainly expected some goals from him by now.

So with the big stage and a weakened (re: less attacking) FCD team, I could see Mathis finally get a goal in this game.

Aero · 06-02-2005, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rover

So with the big stage and a weakened (re: less attacking) FCD team, I could see Mathis finally get a goal in this game.

And it will be even better when he does it on the North goal for the first score of the year for the team in that goal. And then he is going to run over to the Loyalist section and jump into the stands.